Switch



Feb. 9, 1954 w. F. ALLENBY 2,668,895

SWITCH Filed Jan. 28, 1950 WITNESSES: INVENTOR William F. Allenby. 720. '4 54M QBJQQMTM ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED, STATES: PATENT OFFICE,

SWITCH William F.= Allenby, -Stratford, Conn;, assignor to i The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport, (lonn., a corporation of Connecticut.

Application-January 28, 1950,'Serial No'.141,038

9 ,Claims... 200-9467) This-inventionrelatesto? electric switches, gene laterally and inwardly; directed extension .20,

eraltlyiiandmore particularly to manuallyioperwhich extends into proximity with bottom wall: atedsnapjswitches havingmeans for indicating; 4 of the switch casing and terminates in a later-. v their-location inthedark, ally extending contactfinger portion 22', which ism Heretofore various meanshavebeen-employed 5 spaced. fromthe corresponding contact fingerw to illuminate switches of this typeso they may beportion of the other terminal strip.

readily-located in the dark. However, such prior A bridging contact button 24, which is adapted:

structures havie. nerally speaking, required such to be received betweencontact fingerportions; 22 modification: or," rearrangement of standard atthe closed circuit position of the -switch,is

switch :structures as tube 1 relatively expensive 210 mounted in the lower end-.ofa contact supporting and-vbulky; Accordingly; one object of this1in-. member 26. The contactsupporting member 26 vention-isto provide a simplified switch-design, is in the form of a circular segmentpand should, having novelprovisionfor-illuminating an operbe. of insulating material, preferably amaterial-.- ating handle: of'light transmitting material. such as fiber ora molded .insulating .-material;:.

AI'lOthBRObjBCt-Df this invention is toprovidenm Contact suDDOrt member-262isvsupported for. a switch of--thetype described mounted in a movement in the switchcasing by a coil spring switch casing, with astationary'lightsourcealso.. 28. which is receivedin amopeningthrough. an.

mounted in the casing and having novel cooperae intermediate part of thecontact.support,-. and: tion with a switch operating handle of light has the outer ends thereof terminating in wlatera transmitting material. i ally extending arms3|l having hooked ends form-.

Still another object of, this invention is to proing pivotportions 32 adapted to be received in,

videeainovel switch casing, forgan -illuminated--. notches 34 provided in anabutment 36 integral switch of the type described. with switch casing 2. Abutments 36 .are pro- These and otheriobjects of this invention willvided integral with sidewalls 6 and. 8 .of. the.

become more apparent upon-consideration of the 5 switch casing, and each abutment is. provided following detailed description of a preferred em-- at the top thereof with a recess 38, with notches bodiment thereofnwhen taken in connection with 34 being provided in the inner. wall :of each recess the attached drawing, in which: 38.

Figure 1 is a front plan viewof-the switch with The contact support 26 is also provided with. the cover plate broken away and .the switch an operatingpin 40. extending therethrough and handle removed; being secured at a point adjacent the apex of Fig.2 is a section of the switch shown in Fig. the contact support, withsuch apexpart of the 1, .taken substantially on the line II-,-II of Fig. 1; support being received in a slot42 provided in the Fig., 3 isa section ofthe switch-shown in Figs. inner end of handle 4|. The operating pin .40

1 and2, taken. substantially at right angles to is accommodatedin grooves 44 also located in the the section.of.Fig. 2, substantially onthe line inner end of handle 4| substantially centrally.

III-III of Fig. 2;.and thereof. Handle 4| is of a transparent light- Fig.. 4 is a line diagram illustrating aswitch conducting insulating material, preferably a synembodying-this. invention connected in a circuit thetic resin, such as a methylmethacrylate resin, supplying an electricalload. all for a purpose to be described. Handle 4| is The particular switchz in which this invention illustrated as having integral pivot lugs 46 at is illustratively embodied, ismounted in a casing each side thereof to be received in semi-circular of, insulating material. This casing hasa bottom depressions .48 formed in the top of abutments wall 4, side walls 6 and ,8,,an,end walllil at one 36, with the pivot lugs being held in place by end of. the casing, and an end-post I2 rising from a cover, plate 5|] for the switch casing. The cover bottom wall 4 at the other end of the casing, at plate may be formed of metal, and is adapted a point intermediate side walls 6 and 6. to be secured to the switch casing by screws 52,

Terminal strips l4 and I6 are mounted on inand has a central slot 56 for receiving the outer tegral shoulders provided in the switch casing end of handle 4|, with the portions of the cover at each side of end-post l2, and they extend out- 50 plate at opposite sides of slot 56 having semiwardly between the end-post and the respective circular formations 54 which, together with de sidewalls '6 and 8,"to have terminal screws 11 pressions 48, forms a bearing which holdshandle threaded into their outer ends. Terminal'screws 4| in its operative position. IB) -"are; provided in "the inner ends ofterminal The switch is shown in thedrawings at its open strips 14 and "it-fora purpose to be dBSCIibed Cl1Cult position, where bridging contact 24. is i Each' -o' the terminal strips I4 and 6 "have "fspaced away from-contact'finger portions. 22, If.

handle 4| is moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 2, it will be observed that the contact support 26 will be moved downwardly by operating pin 40 with the latter being moved counterclockwise. This initial movement of handle 4|, therefore, stresses coil spring 28, and this action continues until operating pin All passes to the other side of a line connecting the pivot parts 32 of coil spring 28, and the apertur through which spring 28 passes through contact support 26. At this time, the force stored in spring 22 will be operative to quickly move contact support 26 in a counterclockwise direction to forcibly move bridging contact 24 to a position between contact finger parts 22 and in engagement therewith, to thereby close the circuit between terminal strips l4 and Hi. When it is desired to open the switch, handle 4| is simply moved in the opposite direction, thereby returning it to the posi- It will be observed that in the open circuit position of the switch one end of the enlarged head 18 provided at the inner end of switch handle 4| will lie in proximity to the upper end of lamp 62. Moverover, the adjacent surface of handlehead 18 is an inclined surface 80 which is positioned so as to receive a substantial portion of thelight rays emanating from the lamp in its socket 60 at an angle of substantially 90 with respect to surface 80, so that a substantial portion of these light rays will pass into head 18 of thehandle, and due to the high index of refraction of the material employed for handle 4|, the lightrays will be transmitted to the handle stem.

(For the purpose of facilitating transmission of light rays in head portion 18 of the handle 4|,

' all-surfaces of the head portion are preferably wall ID with the abutment 36 on side wall Bto form a socket 611 for receiving a small lamp 62, such, for example, as a lamp of the gaseous discharge type, preferably such as a lamp filled with neon gas. Lamp 62 may illustratively have an upper portion ofits envelope pinched, as at 63, where the leads to the lamp are sealed in. In the opposite corner of the switch casing there is provided a partition 64 which is integral with end wall l0 and with the abutment 36 provided on side wall '6, so as to form a socket 655 for receiving a resistor 66. The resistor may be of any wellknown type having, for example, preferably a carbon resistor. Th lamp and resistor are connected in series circuit relation with terminal strips l4 and I6, by one conductor 68 extending from one end of the resistor through the channel formed between side Wall 6 and the upper end of its abutment 36, with the wire being held in this channel by a strip I0 of insulating material, such as fiber, which snugly fits within the channel to thus completely insulate conductor 68 from the casing cover. A second conductor 12 is connected with the other terminal of resistor 66 and one terminal of lamp 62, and xtends through a notch in the outer end of partition 64. The circuit is completed by a third conductor i4 connected between the other terminal of lamp 62 and terminal strip I6, with this'conductorlyin'g" in the channel formed between the upper end of the abutment 36 and the Side wall 8 with which the abutment is inte ral. This channel is also closed by a filler strip 16 of an insulating material sim the lamp, and, therefore, the lamp will not be energized sufficiently to give out light. However, when switch 2 is open, the lamp 62 and resistor 66 are then in series with load L, and will be subject to sufficient voltage to light npthe lamp made to be plane surfaces so that light rays striking' these surfaces will be reflected at the same angle as the angle of incidence, and moreover, the outwardly projecting'portion'of handle 4| is also made up of a number of plane surfaces to assist 'in-- reflecting light rays to the'outer tip of thehandle and, of course, to render these rays more clearly :visible throughout the length of the projecting part of the handle.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this" invention comprehends the provision of a light source for illuminating a switch handle,'with the light source being stationarily mounted in the-- switch casing and the handle having a portion cooperating therewith for transmitting light from the source to the part of the handle projecting outside of the casing. Moreover, the switch casing itself is formed in a novel manner'to'accommodate the light source and its series resistor, I as well as the conductors connecting themacross the switch terminals.

Having disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it should be understood that" the invention is not limited to the particular structure disclosed herein, inasmuch as it will'be apparent that it may be used with other types'of switches, or even other types of circuit opening and closing devices. Accordingly, it is' desired that the invention be not limited to the particular construction disclosed herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch comprising, a switch casing, sepa' rable contacts in said casing, an operating hanan opening in the casing so as to be operable from the exterior for actuating said contacts, a light 1 source in said casing, said handle having an integral inner portion which is movable to and away from a position where it is in proximity to said light source to thus transmit light to the exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position, and said handle having a substantially plane surface in proximity to said light when the' handle is at its aforesaid position,which surface is positioned substantially perpendicular" to a substantial part of the light rays emanating from said source, said inner portion of said handle being in closest proximity to said light source when the light source is energized and said contacts are separated.

2. A switch comprising, a switch casing of insulating material having an open side and an opaque cover removably secured over said open side, separable contacts in said casing, actuating mechanism in said casing for actuating one of .fifl id contacts into and out of engagement viith theother; an operating handle movably mounted on said open'side-of the casing for operating said mechanism and having a part projecting through an opening in said cover for operation from the exterior, said casing having an integral partition also having a side opening facing the plane of movement of the handle, a light source mounted in said socket, and said handle having an integral inner portion which is movable to and away from a position where one side of it is opposite said light source at said side opening to thus transmit light to the exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position, said inner portion of said handle being in closest proximity to said light source when the light source is energized and said contacts are separated.

31A switch comprising, a switch casing of insulating material having an open side and an opaque cover removably secured over said open side, spaced fixed contacts in said casing electrically connected to terminals at the exterior of said casing, a bridging contact mounted for move ment in the easing into and out of rela tion with said fixed contacts, operating mechanism in the casing for actuating bridging contact, an operating handle pivotally mounted on said open side of the casing for operating said mechanism and having one part projecting through an opening in said cover for operation from the "exterior and another part extending into the casing to engage said mechanism, said casing having spaced interiorly located integral sockets opening only toward said one side of the casing'but offset from the plane of movement of said bridging contact and handle, a light source mounted in one socket, a resistor mounted in the other socket, means electrically connecting said light source and resistor in series circuit with said fixed contacts, and said handle having an integral inner portion which is movable to and away from a position where it is in proximity to said light source to thus transmit light to the exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position.

4. A switch comprising, a switch casing of insulating material having an open ide and an opaque cover removably secured over said open side, spaced fixed contacts in said casing electrically connected to terminals at the exterior of said casing, a bridging contact mounted for movement in the casing into and out of bridging relation with said fixed contacts, operating mechanism in the casing for actuating said bridging contact, an operating handle pivotally mounted on said open side of the casing for operating said mechanism and having one part projecting through an opening in said cover for operation from the exterior, and another part extending into the casing to engage said mechanism, said casing having spaced interiorly located integral sockets opening only toward said one side of the casing but offset from the plane of movement of said bridging contact and handle, a light source mounted in one socket, a resistor mounted in the other socket, said casing having integral interiorly located conductor receiving channels between said sockets and fixed contacts, means including conductors in said channels for connecting said light source and resistor in series circuit relation with said fixed contacts, and said handle having an integral inner portion-which is movableto andwaway fromn a position where it-is in proximity to said light source to thus transmit light tozthe exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position..

5. A-switch "comprising, a switch casing of insulating material having an open side and an opaque cover removably securedover said open side, spaced fixed contacts in said casing electrically connected to terminals at the exterior of said casing, a bridging contact mounted for movement in the casing into and out of bridging relation with said fixed contacts, mechanism in the casing for actuating said bridging contact, an operating handle pivotally mounted on said open side of the casing for operating said mechanism and having one part projecting through an opening in said cover for operation from the exterior and another part extending into the casing to engage said mechanism, said casing having spaced interiorly located integral sockets opening only toward said one side of the casing but offset from the plane of movement of said bridging contact and handle, a light source mounted in one socket, a resistor mounted in the other socket, said casing hav ing integral interiorly located conductor receiving channels which also open only toward said one side of the casing and are located between said sockets and fixed contacts, means including conductors in said channels for connecting said light source and resistor in series circuit relation with said fixed contacts, and said handlehaving an integral inner portion which is movable to and away from a position where it is in proximity to said light source to thus transmit light to the exterior of the casing at the aforei said handle position.

6. A switch comprising, a switch casing of in sulating material which is generally rectangular in form and open at the front side, a pair of fixed contacts in said casing at one end thereof, a

bridging contact mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally of the casing into and out of bridging relation with said fixed contacts, mechanism in said casing for actuating said bridging contact, an operating handle for said mechanism mounted for pivotal movement on an axis transverse of said casing adjacent the front of the casing, a cover for the casing having an aperture for receiving a projecting part of said handle, means in one corner of said casing at the other end thereof for supporting a light source in said one corner, and said handle having an integral inner portion which is movable about the pivotal axis of the handle to and away from a position where it is opposite to the inner side of said light source to thus transmit light to the exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position, said inner portion of said handle being in closest proximity to said light source when the light source is energized and said contacts are separated.

7. A switch comprising, a switch casing of insulating material which is open at the front side, a pair of fixed contacts in said casing at one end thereof, a bridging contact mounted in said oasing for movement longitudinally of the casing into and out of bridging relation with said fixed contacts, mechanism in said casing for actuating said bridging contact, an operating handle for said mechanism mounted for pivotal movement on an axis transverse of said casing adjacent the front of the casing, a cover for the casing having an aperture for receiving a projecting part of said handle, a socket open at the front in each of operating the corners of said casing at the other end thereof, a light source in one socket, a resistor'in the other socket, means electrically connecting said light source and resistor inseries circuit relation with said fixed contacts, and said handle having an integral inner portion which is movable about the pivotal axis of the handle to and away from a position where it is opposite to the inner side of said light source to thus transmit-light to the exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position, said inner portion of said handle being in closest proximity to said light source when the light source is energized and said contacts are separated.

8. A switch comprising, a switch casing of insulating material which is open at the front side, a pair of fixed contacts in said casing at one end thereof, a bridging contact mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally of the easing into and out of bridging relation with said fixed contacts, mechanism in said casing for ac tuating said bridging contact, an operating handle for said mechanism mounted for pivotal movement on an axis transverse of said casing adjacent the front of the casing, a cover for the casing having an aperture for receiving a projecting part of said handle, a socket open at the front in each of the corners of said casing at the other end thereof, a light source in one socket, a resistor in the other socket, means electrically connecting said light source and resistor in series circuit relation with said fixed contacts, including conductors extending along the sides of said casing between each socket and the adjacent fixed contact with said conductors located in channels formed integral with said casing and open at the front, and said handle having an integral inner portion which is movable about the pivotal axis of the handle to and away from a position Where it is opposite to the inner side of said light source to thus transmit light to the exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position, aid inner portion of said handle being in closest proximity to said light source when the light source is energized and said contacts are separated.

9; A switch comprising, a switching casing of'-' insulating material which is, open at the front side, a pair of fixed contacts in said casing;

at one end thereof, a bridging contact mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally-of the casing into and out of bridging relation with said fixed contacts, mechanism in said casing for actuating said bridging contact, an operating handle for said mechanism mounted for pivotal end thereof, a light source in one socket, a resistor in the other socket, means electrically connecting said light source and resistor in series circuit relation with said fixed contacts, including conductors extending along the sides of said casing between each socket and the adjacent fixed contact with said conductors located in;

channels formed integral with said casing and open at the front, removable means of insulating material in each channel for retaining the respective conductors therein, and said handle having an integral inner portion which is movable about the pivotal axis of the handle to and awayfrom a position where it is opposite to the inner side of said light source to thus transmit light to the exterior of the casing at the aforesaid handle position, said inner portion of said handle being in closest proximity to said light source when the a light source is energized and said contacts are separated.

W'ILLIAIVI F. ALLENBY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,300,724 Bluemle Nov. 3, 1942 2,352,653 OBrien July 4, 1944 2,512,975 Sherrard June 27, 1950 2,517,845 Cooper Aug. 8, 1950 

